News and New Products

European Chip Distribution Weak

Online staff -- Electronics Weekly, 8/12/2005

The European semiconductor distribution market showed signs of weakness in the first six months of the year, according to figures from the Distributors' and Manufacturers' Association of Semiconductor Specialists (DMASS).

The relative strength of the first half of 2004 has emphasized the sluggishness in the market this year particularly in the second quarter, where sales of $1.42 billion (1.15 billion euro) were 6 percent lower than a year ago.

Sales in the first six months were $2.9 billion (2.34 billion euro), 4.5 percent lower than the first half of 2004.

“2005 seems to become a transition year, driven by a slow market and some uncertainties, which the European Union directives RoHS and WEEE impose on the industry,” commented Gary Nevison, chairman of the industry group.

The strongest regional markets for semiconductor sales were the Czech Republic (14.2 percent) and Russia (13.8 percent).

All western European countries declined between 3.5 percent (Italy) and 25.3 percent (Sweden).

Electronics Weekly is the London-based sister publication of Electronic News.